Originally posted by ladymuck
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State of the Market
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Last edited by Robinho; 6 January 2025, 15:52. -
Originally posted by SchumiStars View Post
I might try this, next week. Nothing to lose. Never done it this way before tbh, just applied for roles and if they like me, they will call. It's worked so far, bar the last 2years
Just this morning I called the switchboard of the agency for a role I had applied for last week, and asked to be put through to the agent named on the ad. He took the call and we had a good chat where I just expressed an interest in more details about the role. He said 150 people had applied for the role, but I didn't get the impression he was being hounded with calls. It makes sense that this call was likely to have put me ahead of other applicants (although I ultimately rejected the role because it turned out to be a mainly python coding gig, and my python is too light). And I'm no high-flyer.Comment
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Originally posted by edison View PostIt's still worth trying a call though. I got my last gig by phoning the switchboard of an agency after seeing a Jobserve ad which had no contact details and actually got put through to the agent to my surprise.
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Originally posted by GJABS View Post
[...]It makes sense that this call was likely to have put me ahead of other applicants [...]
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Originally posted by dsc View Post
Or it would've made absolutely no difference and you've had a chat. Depends on the agent, on your skills etc.
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Originally posted by GJABS View Post
Definitely do it.
Just this morning I called the switchboard of the agency for a role I had applied for last week, and asked to be put through to the agent named on the ad. He took the call and we had a good chat where I just expressed an interest in more details about the role. He said 150 people had applied for the role, but I didn't get the impression he was being hounded with calls. It makes sense that this call was likely to have put me ahead of other applicants (although I ultimately rejected the role because it turned out to be a mainly python coding gig, and my python is too light). And I'm no high-flyer.Comment
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I accepted a rate that is my lowest ever and £75 a day lower than my first ever contract in 2013.
It's outside, I'll still be able to shop at Waitrose and I might as well be earning whilst waiting for things to improve.Comment
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Originally posted by SussexSeagull View Post
At worst it wouldn't have done them any harm.Comment
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Originally posted by dsc View Post
For sure, but I'd argue (like ascender has already above) that you need to somehow stand out from all the others, either be a superb match, or perhaps worked with the client before etc.
I also agree it can be helpful for them too. Cold calling like this often starts out with them being a little cautious or skeptical. 90% of the time when I call they have not even seen my CV yet, even if its 1 or 2 days after sending it. Since I know this is frequently the case, I usually start with that as the reason for calling. Things tend start with them mumbling as they hunt around in their inbox to find my CV. Then once they open it and I point to some of my experience which happens to be highly relevant to the current JD, they mostly warm up pretty quickly.
Occasionally I get knocked back immediately - often because there is some important piece of experience that the client wants that I do not have. But that is ok and still helpful to call and find that out, because a typical JD may not make clear what the red line is. Sometimes "essential experience" turns out to only be "desirable", there is some degree of flexibility in most JDs and it takes the human element in the form of a good recruiter to know. If I get knocked back, I will politely accept that, and ask the agent to file my CV in case something that better matches me should come up.
Often agents have a short list of 3 or 5 CVs that they are allowed to submit to the client. Seems like today they are getting 300 or 500 CVs for each position, so you need the right skills and a bit of gentle pursuasion to get onto the short list.
Also a reason why I despise LinkedIn - no-one gives out a phone number on LI. Too much reliance on algorithms to find and filter candidates. That might be different if the social/chat features of that site were better, there might be some chance of developing a more genuine sense of community there. On the whole I don't see how LI fosters social connections the whole thing just feels a bit off to me.Last edited by willendure; 8 January 2025, 09:55.Comment
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Market is dead. It's been 2yrs.
I think it's going to require some sort of magical IT product to get it all going again and get the tech companies to wake up.
Maybe the next WhatsApp, Mobile Phone Advancement or tech boom.
The way it's going at the moment, it looks another 12mths of this tulip at least.
I do wonder sometimes if the entire universe has conspired to work against me. And yes, I do take it personally
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